Paula Reto started with a bogey on Thursday, but she bounced back with five birdies and just one more dropped shot to go three-under-par in the first round of the LPGA Tour’s TOTO Japan Classic at the Seta Golf Course.
That gave her a share of 15th at 69, six strokes off the nine-under-par set by the first-round leader, Hana Wakimoto of Japan. Wakimoto was two strokes clear of Jin Young Ko of Korea, while Sweden’s Linn Grant, Japan’s Ayaka Furue, and the Norean duo of Jenny Shin and Hyo Joo Kim shared third on six-under-par.
After her opening bogey on the 10th hole, Reto made three birdies on her way to the turn. On the front nine, she made birdies on two and nine, but dropped a shot on the sixth.
Wakimoto,s score tied the Seta course record and was the best round of her career.
“Recently my ball striking has been very good, so I have been confident and I could attack the pins today,” said Wakimoto, who is leading the field in most birdies made (nine) and is tied for the fewest number of putts through the first round.
Australian Minjee Lee was tied for seventh after a 67 and Canadian Brooke Henderson shot 70. Only eight players in the 78-player, no-cut field, were over-par after the first round.
